Machine for harvesting onions and the like

ABSTRACT

The machine includes an alignment section, such as including oppositely rotating pairs of spiral rolls, which receive the onions from a front conveyor and move the onions toward a cutter for removing the tops and placing the onions, top down, during such movement. a paddle wheel having flexible blades, beneath the alignment rolls, urges the tops toward the cutter, while a flexible skirt is engaged by the blades to wipe the onion tops off the blades. A conveyor, which receives the topped onions from the cutter, is used as a picking table, for culling purposes, while the onions are delivered through hollow, upright chutes into sacks, with reversible plates in the chutes for directing the onions to alternate sacks, and handle-operated bars for moving a sack off hooks, at the lower edge of the chute opposite the operator.

United States Patent Inventors Fred E. Lauridsen, Sr.

Fred E. Lauridsen, Jr., both of 1001 D Street, Greeley, Colo. 80631 [2|]Appl. No. 780,445 [221 Filed Dec.2, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971[54] MACHINE FOR HARVESTING ONIONS AND THE LIKE 3Clalms, 13 DrawingFigs.

(52] [1.5. CI 56/327 R, 146/83,]71/11,171/28,171/36,171/41 [51] IIILCI..A0ld45/00 [50) Field oiSearch 56/1, 327 R; 171/1 1,20,26,28,31,'36,40,41,42; 146/81, 83, 85

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 550.234 11/1895 Dunn et a1.171/11 X 945,073 111910 Atwood 171/31 1,016,976 2/1912 Stolts 171/42 X1,183,963 5/1916 Eriksen 171/31 X 1.205.060 11/1916 Thomas 171/31Primary Examiner- Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-.1. A. OliffAttorney-Van Valkenburgh & Lowe ABSTRACT: The machine includes analignment section, such as including oppositely rotating pairs of spiralrolls, which receive the onions from a front conveyor and move theonions toward a cutter for removing the tops and placing the onions, topdown, during such movement. a paddle wheel having flexible blades,beneath the alignment rolls, urges the tops toward the cutter, while aflexible skirt is engaged by the blades to wipe the onion tops off theblades. A conveyor, which receives the topped onions from the cutter, isused as a picking table, for culling purposes, while the onions aredelivered through hollow, upright chutes into sacks, with reversibleplates in the chutes for directing the onions to alternate sacks, andhandle-operated bars for moving a sack off hooks, at the lower edge ofthe chute opposite the operator.

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet I IN VEN TOR. Fred E. Lauridsen,Sr. Fred E. Lauridsen. Jr. M W "6.9;

ATTORNEYS Patented Au 10, 1971 3,597,909

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

IN VEN TORS Fred E. Laun'dsen, Sr. Fred E. Lauridsen, Jr.

WMW M AT TORNE YS Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,909

5 Sheets-Sheet 4c M I wr IN VENTORS Fred E. Lauridsen. Sr. Fred E.Lauridsen, Jr.

ATTORNEYS 4 MA HINE ron HARVESTING on ons AND TIIE LIKE This inventionrelates to apparatus for harvesting harvestingvegetables having tops,such as onions, and more particularly to-liarvesting'apparatus whichwill facilitate the operations of picking up, cleaning, topping cullingand sacking of freshly dug'vegetables. The apparatus is especiallyadapted for use -tvith field onions which are to beharvested while thetops may still be green and, accordingly, it will be hereinafterreferred to asan onion harvesting machine.

improved mobile-onionharvesting machine having a longitu-' dillilly'extended array-of components from the front to the rear of the machinewhich provide for a continuous movement ofionions and 'a sequence ofoperations for topping, culling anrlsacking as fast as the onions arepicked up from the field.

. Another object of the invention is to provide, in an onionharvestingmachine, a novel and improved mechanism for Y cutting off the tops whichincludes a tablelike section adapted to receive onions in a randommanner as they are picked up from th'e 'field, to shift them across thetable section, from the leading and towards the trailing end of theapparatus, and to orient the onions as they moveacross the table to acommon position with the tops hanging downwardly, for movement intoatop-severing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an onionharvestingmachine having a cutter for severing onion tops as they move from analignment table with' the tops being positinned downwardly a novel andimproved feeding arrange titcnt adapted to hold the tops in theirdownward position to facilitate 'the'movement of the. onions from thetable and into the cutter and to subsequently move the tops away fromthe Cutting device.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in anonionharvestiingmachine, a novel and simplified arrangement of aconveyor belt adapted to receive onions after the tops have 'bccn-cutaway and to transport such-onions along an open teach in a manner whichpermits the same tobe inspected and pulled of undesirable objects andspoiled onions.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in an onionharvestingmachine adapted to move topped, selected onions 7 into asacking chute,anovel and improved chute construction which permits the movement ofonions from one sack to another as the first sack is filled withoutslowing down, flopping or interrupting the flow of onions.

Other objects of the invention are to provide, in an onionharvestingmachine, a simply arranged, neat appearing, economical, rugged anddurable apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafterappear,'o'ur invention comprises certain construc- -tioln, combinationsand arrangement of parts and elements, ashercinafte'r described andillustrated in the accompanying dealings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine for harvesting onions writ-helike, constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG; 2 in top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1,. FIG. 3 is acondensed, horizontal section, taken along line 3+3 ofFI'G. 1 but onanenlarged scale, and illustrating the afigningiand topping section ofthe machine.

FIGA is a fragmentary vertical section, taken along line 4-4 oi'FlG'a 2,but man enlarged scale andshowing' an onion inan aWgncd', top-downposition, the top of which is urged against a topping. cutter by aflexible paddle, in accordance with this in vention.

FIG. 5'- is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical section, taken line S-SofFIG. 3; illustrating a drive mechanism for and certain other'componentsof the alignment section.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of structural com-- FIG. 8 islafragmentary top plan view of the flexible paddle:

assembly.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the har vester,illustrating a sacking station atthe rear of the ap-t paratus.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the sacking station, showing particularlysacking chutes with one side thereof in section"- along line 10-10 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken along line 11-11 ofFIG. 10, but on a slightly enlarged scale.

FIG. 12 is-a horizontal section of one of the sacking chutes,;.

taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9, but on a somewhat enlarged scale. FIG.13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail of a front portion of thecarriage frame, taken along line 13-13 of FIG. A

2, but on an enlarged scale and illustrating means for controlling theelevation of the conveyor which extends from the forward end of themachine. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,the improved onion harvester is I preferably a dual unit, having twocomplete sets of components in a side-by-side, longitudinally extendedarrange-.

ment which operate in unison and which are carried upon a wheel mountedframework F. The dual arrangement not only,

enhances the lateral stability of the apparatus, but also permits it tomove across a field to harvest two rows, or two groups of rows, ofonions simultaneously by picking up freshly dug onions through pickuprolls R at the leading or front end of the apparatus, The rolls R, ofconventional construction, deposit the onions upon the respectiveconveyors C, which move the onions upwardly and towards the rear of theapparatus. From the conveyors C, the onions are deposited on alignmentsections A which continue to move the onions rearwardly but orient themto a top-down position. As the onions leave the alignment sections, theyare moved against topping cutters T. A transversely disposed, rotatingpaddle assembly P beneath the alignment sections cooperate with toppingcutters T. to push the onions into the cutters and hold the opts in adownward position. Subsequently, the paddles brush the cut tops awayfrom the apparatus to discharge them upon the ground. The topped onionsare then deposited upon rearwardly'extended culling belt conveyors Bwhere operators, standing upon platforms at both sides of the machine,may pick out and throw' away undersized, damaged or spoiled onions.Finally, the onions are discharged from the rearward end of theconveyors B into sacking chutes S at the rearward end of the machine,where an operator, standing upon a platform at the rear of the machine,directs the onions into sacks and changes sacks as they are filled withonions.

The framework F may include a rectangular base 20 of Iongitudinal andtransverse structural members. Front steering wheels 21 and rear drivewheels-22 render the framework mobile. The' framework also includes aforward and a rearward set of vertical struts 23 and 24 above thecentral portion of the bed to support an elevated, rectangular frame 25for housing components forming the alignment section A, while a deck 26and an engine mount 27 are supported upon the frame 25, Ti le rearwardend of each conveyor C is pivotally connected to the forward end of thetable frame 25 by picot pin 28, to extend forwardly therefrom andoverhang the forward end of the framework F, while height adjustmentmechanisms connected to the central portion of the conveyor arehereinafter described. Tl-Ie forward end of each culling belt conveyor Bis supported upon the rearward set of struts 24 immediately below thetable frame, while the rearward end of each culling belt and the sackingchutes S are supported upon vertically extending struts 29 at the rearof the framework. Side platforms 30 outst'and' from each side of theframework alongside the culling belt conveyors B and a rear platform 31outstands from the rear of the framework, as heretofore mentioned. Aladder 32 at one side of the framework is provided for easy access tothe deck and a seat 33 is placed on the deck for the operator.

The onion harvester is a self-automated unit and an engine 34 and masterpump 35 connected thereto are carried upon the engine mount 27 above theframe 25, at one side of the apparatus. The operator's seat 33 ismounted upon the deck 26 at the other side of the apparatus and in anelevated position, to enable the operator to easily view all of theoperative components of the unit. A steering wheel 36 is located infront of the operator's seat and is operatively linked to the frontwheels 21 by steering linkages which are conventional and therefore notillustrated. Located in front of the operator's seat is a manifold 37 ofvalves operated by control levers 38 to cause pressure fluid from themaster pump to be supplied through selected lines 39, which lead torespective hydraulic actuators and motors in the apparatus, ashereinafter described.

Each conveyor C includes a conventional, open rod-type flight 40, suchas formed by hooked links, which permits dirt from the onions orotherwise deposited on the conveyor to fall through the rods and thusprovide a preliminary cleaning step in the onion-harvesting operation.Each conveyor flight is carried between side boards 41 upon sprockets,not shown, which in turn are mounted upon a common forward shaft 42 anda common rear drive shaft 43. A hydraulic motor 44 is connected by achain drive, as shown, to the drive shaft 43 to drive the conveyors andto also drive the pickup rolls R at the front of the conveyors, througha belt and pulley drive 45 connecting with the forward shaft 42 of theconveyor C. The elevation of the front end of the conveyors isnecessarily adjustable to hold the pickup rolls R at proper groundpositions and to retract the same to a position above the ground as whenthe unit is being moved from one field to another. Thus, the rearwardend of each conveyor is connected to pivot pin 28 at the forwardcrossmember of the frame 25. An adjustable support mechanism at thecenter of each conveyor is mounted upon short front struts 46, asillustrated in FIG. 13, and includes a bellcrank lever 47 pivotallyconnected to the strut 46, with one arm being connected to the pistonrod of a hydraulic cylinder actuator 48 pivotally mounted upon avertical frame strut 23. The other arm of the lever 47 is pivotallyconnected to one end of a link 49, while the other end of the link ispivotally connected to a conveyor sideboard 41. In the arrangement sodescribed, both conveyors operate in unison; however, a simpleduplication of mechanisms which need not be described would permit themto operate individually.

Each pickup roll R at the front end of each conveyor is mounted betweenextensions 41' of the sideboards of the conveyor on a common shaft 42'.The function of the rolls R is to pick up onions lying upon the groundand to deposit them upon the conveyor. Such a roll is a conventionalcomponent and need not be described further. Furthermore, the rolls Rmay be replaced by scoops, diggers or similar devices commonly availablewhich also function to dig, if necessary, and to deposit onions upon theconveyors C as the apparatus moves along the onion rows.

The alignment section A, as in FIGS. 3 and 5, includes an array ofparallel, longitudinally disposed, spiral tubes 50 arranged as opposingpairs having a clearance space of about 1 inch between the rolls of eachpair. Each end of each tube terminates in an axial stub shaft 51 whichis mounted in suitable bearings at the front and rear transverse membersof the frame 25 and each is adapted to rotate in its bearings in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of its mate. Thesedirections of rotation are such that the surface of each tube of a pairmoves from the top, towards its mate and downwardly between them.Rotating thus, the tube at the left hand of an observer will rotateclockwise and the tube at the right hand of the observer will rotatecounterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3 with the observer at the positionof FIG. 5. A spiralflute 52 outstands from the surface of each tube,with each flute winding oppositely to the wind of the flute ofits mateand with both being pitched the same to drag an object, such as anonion, resting in the trough between the pair, towards the rear end ofthe section. Accordingly, whenever an onion falls upon the tubes andinto the trough between a pair ofspiralled tubes, it is draggedrearwardly and, at the same time, the top of the onion is pulleddownwardly into the space between the tubes, as in the manner indicatedin FIG. 4. Spiral flutes 52 may be formed of lengths of V-belting,secured to the corresponding tube. by a strong adhesive To assure theproper placing of onions upon the tubes and to prevent them from fallinginto the. trough spaces between tubes of different pairs, the spacebetween each pair of tubes may be occupied by longitudinal bars 53,while a set of depending separator strips .54 of resilient material aresuspended froma crossbar 55 and extend downwardly to each of the bars53, so as to flip any onion which moves from between a mating pair oftubes back between a mating pair of the tubes. For the tubes 50 at eachside of the alignment section, the sides of frame 25 may extend abovethe tubes a sufficient distance to prevent any onions from falling tothe outside. In FIG. Sis shown, somewhat diagrammatically, the manner inwhich the spiral tubes 50 are driven. The drive stub shaft 51 oftube 50projects through its forward bearing in the frame 25 to carry a sprocket56. A hydraulic motor 57, mounted at the side of the frame, carries asimilar sprocket 58 in alignment with the shaft sprockets and a chain 59extends across the.

shaft sprockets with the top reach of the chain being threaded about thesprockets in an over and under manner, as illus-.

trated, to produce the opposing directions of rotation as hereinabovedescribed, with the upper and lower reaches of the chain moving in thedirection of the arrows adjacent thereto.

As the onions move in the troughs between opposing tubes 50 and to therearward end of the alignment section A, the downturned tops are pushedrearwardly by a paddle assembly P to push the onions from the troughsand into a topping cutter T. This cutter may be a pair of conventionalreciprocable-type mower blades, each including a notched support plate60 and a closely fitted toothed blade 61 slidably positioned against theundersurface of the support plate. Each cutter is mounted across therear end of half of frame 25 with the cutting edge of the plate beingadjacent to the rearward ends of the spiralled tubes, and with a notch62 being aligned with each trough between the mating tubes 50. Eachcutter plate is sloped downwardly and rearwardly from its cutting edge,as in FIG. 4, so that a topped onion thereon will roll rearwardly awayfrom the table and onto the culling belt conveyor.

The drive for both cutters is a transverse rod 63 attached to' theunderside of both ofthe blades, as in FIG. 4, and extending in thetroughs between opposing tubes will be pulled,

downwardly. The onions then move from the troughs and into the notchesof the cutters, so that the reciprocating blades cut away the tops andpermit the onions to roll rearwardly from the cutter and onto theculling belt conveyor B.

A paddle assembly P, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, is mounted underneath eachhalf of the alignment section, with both paddle assemblies including atransversely disposed shaft 69 substantially underneath the leading edgeof the topping cutter T and connected at the center by a coupling 70, asof the sprocket and chain type. Each shaft 69 is carried in bearingswhich, in

turn, are mounted upon frame legs 71 which depend from the sides andcenter of the frame 25, as in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each paddle assemblyincludes a pair of rectangular flaps 72 of resilient and tough butcomparatively stiff material, secured to a flange 73 to outstandradially in opposite directions.

Preferably, the flaps 72 of one paddle assembly are oriented at rightangles with respect to the flanges .of the other section, to I equalizethe load on thepaddle assemblies. Each flange 73 is mounted on a tube74'which surrounds and isattached to a shaft 69. A hydraulic motor 75 ismounted at one side of the frame to rotate the paddle flaps 72 in adirection which produces a rearward movement of a flap when it isabovethe shaft, as in the direction of the arrow 76 of FIGS. 4, 6 and 7.Each paddle is positioned so that the outer edge of the flap 72 willthus be comparatively close to the underside of the spiralled' tubes 50and the underside of the topping cutter T. A vertical skirt 77 issuspended at the rearward edge of the topping cutter, as in FIG. 4,being formed of resilient but comparatively stiff material and struckand deflected by each paddle flap 72 as it rotates therepast. Inoperation, the paddle flaps 72 will contact and hold onion tops in theirdesirable paddle at 90 with respect to the flaps of the other paddle, as

' from one side to the other of the chute. Accordingly, whenever a sackat one side of the chute is filled with onions, the

shown in FIG. 7, the holding,'pushing and striking actions of vthepaddles will occur at alternating, spaced intervals to producesmoother operation and a minimum-load on the hydraulic drive motor.

Each culling belt conveyor B, as in FIGS. 2 and 4, is essentially' aconventional unit consisting of a flat conveyor belt 80 and sacks belowthem. Accordingly, spaced cleats are ati tached to the belts to spacethe onions apart'and to prevent them from rolling backwards as they moveupwards along the belt. As will be evident, a workman standing on eachside platform 30 may remove culls as the onions are moved upwardly andrearwardly by the adjacent belt conveyor.

Each sacking chute S is formed as a rectangular box-shaped structurehavingan open top and an open bottom. The sides 0 81'- are essentiallydownward continuations of the conveyor sideboards 81 and arecomplete'dby a front wall 86 and 'a rear wall87. Each chute S isreinforced by-a connector 88 extending therebetween and the combinedpair is mounted upon the rear vertical struts 29 at a positionimmediately below the terminal of the respective conveyor belt B, sothat onions discharged from the conveyor belt will drop into the chute.The size of each chute is such that two sacks 89 can be placed acrossthe bottom opening of the cute in a side-by-side, open mouth position toreceive the onions, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

These sacks are held by suitable hooks outstanding from the lower edgesof the front and rear walls and 87, as will .be hereinafter furtherdescribed.

A rectangular deflector plate 90 is shiftably mounted within each cute Sto overlie one sack 89 or the other with the plate 90 being inclined tocause onions falling into the chute and striking theplate to bedeflected to and through the open portion of the chute and into one sackonly. The shifting action of the deflector plate 90 is e effected by aU-shaped handle 91,

the ends of which extend through complementary inclined deflector plateis simply shifted to overlie that sack and expose the other sack forfilling. Then, the first sack may be removed and another empty sackpositioned on the holding hooks at the bottom edge of the chute.

Four hooks are required to hold each sack in its open positionunderneath the chute and these include a pair of outstanding, straightrelease hooks 94 on the forward wall and a pair of outstanding, upturnedholding hooks 95 on the rear wall, as in FIGS. 10-12. These books arearranged to permit a quick, easy removal of a sack from the chute onceit is filled with onions, by releasing the sack from the release hooks94 to permit it to be swung rearwardly to a position where the filledsack may be removed by the operator, after release from hooks'95. Toeffect this removal, a push bar 96 for each sack is positioned at eachside of the lower edge of the forward wall. The push bar has a hole neareach end, as in FIG. I2, through which one of its pair of outstandinghooks 94 projects. This push bar is attached to the ends of the legs ofa U-shaped rod 97 which extends through slide holes in the front andrear walls and in brackets 98 at the outer sides of the chute. The

crotch of the U-rod 97 is mounted on it to permit it to be pushed towardthe rear wall of the chute. This movement causes the push bar 96 .tomove forwardly from the forward wall and beyond the end of the hooks 94to release a sack held by the forward hooks. Springs 100 on the legs ofeach U-rod 97 urge the push bar 96 against the forward wall 86, so thatthe push bar will be moved back over hooks 94 when handle 91 isreleased, to permit the operator, after removal of the filled sack, tohang another sack on the hooks. As will be evident, a filled sack may beremoved and replaced with an empty sack, while the next sack is filling.

We have now described a preferred embodiment of our invention inconsiderable detail; however, it is evident that other embodiments mayexist and various changes may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

IWhat we claim is:

1. In apparatus for harvesting onions and the like:

a. alignment means for moving onions from a leading end thereof acrossto a discharge end thereof and at the same time orient and turn saidonions to a top-down position with the onion tops depending from thealignment means;

b. cutter means at the discharge end of the alignment means for severingthe onion tops;

. means beneath said alignment means adjacent to said cutter means forurging said depending onion tops toward said cutter means, said topurging means being mounted.

upon a rotatable shaft disposed parallel to the discharge end of saidalignment means and including blade sections radially outstanding fromthe shaft for movement undemeath and adjacent to both said alignmentmeans and said cutter means and toward said cutter means as an incidentof rotation of the shaft; and

d. a depending skirt formed of resilient but relatively stiff materialand disposed in position to be engaged by said blade sections aftermovement thereof beneath said cutter means.

2. In the apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein:

said blade sections are flat, rectangular sheets of comparatively stiffbut'resilient material.

3. An apparatus for harvesting vegetables, such as onions,

by picking up such vegetables, topping the same and thereafter conveyingthe same for sacking, including:

a sacking chute having walls forming a rectangular boxlike structureopen at the top and bottom and through which vegetables may move, saidchute-being proportioned so that two open-mouth sacks may be placed atthe bottom thereof to receive vegetables falling into the chute and eachof two opposing walls of said chute having a pair of disjoined,oppositely inclined, downwardly converging slots;

a deflector plate within said chute adapted to overlie one said chutefor shifting the deflector plate from one side of sack and to deflectvegetables falling thereon into the the chute to the other to deflectvegetables into a selected other sack; sack; and

supporting means extending from each corner f th d fl means forreleasably holding the respective sacks in position tor plate andthrough a corresponding slot; fillinga handle connected to saidsupporting means at one wall of

1. In apparatus for harvesting onions and the like: a. alignment meansfor moving onions from a leading end thereof across to a discharge endthereof and at the same time orient and turn said onions to a top-downposition with the onion tops depending from the alignment means; b.cutter means at the discharge end of the alignment means for severingthe onion tops; c. means beneath said alignment means adjacent to saidcutter means for urging said depending onion tops toward said cuttermeans, said top urging means being mounted upon a rotatable shaftdisposed parallel to the discharge end of said alignment means andincluding blade sections radially outstanding from the shaft formovement underneath and adjacent to both said alignment means and saidcutter means and toward said cutter means as an incident of rotation ofthe shaft; and d. a depending skirt formed of resilient but relativelystiff material and disposed in position to be engaged by said bladesections after movement thereof beneath said cutter means.
 2. In theapparatus defined in claim 1, wherein: said blade sections are flat,rectangular sheets of comparatively stiff but resilient material.
 3. Anapparatus for harvesting vegetables, such as onions, by picking up suchvegetables, topping the same and thereafter conveying the same forsacking, including: a sacking chute having walls forming a rectangularboxlike structure open at the top and bottom and through whichvegetables may move, said chute being proportioned so that twoopen-mouth sacks may be placed at the bottom thereof to receivevegetables falling into the chute and each of two opposing walls of saidchute having a pair of disjoined, oppositely inclined, downwardlyconverging slots; a deflector plate within said chute adapted to overlieone sack and to deflect vegetables falling thereon into the other sack;supporting means extending from each corner of the deflector plate andthrough a corresponding slot; a handle connected to said supportingmeans at one wall of said chute for shifting the deflector plate fromone side of the chute to the other to deflect vegetables into a selectedsack; and means for releasably holding the respective sacks in positionfor filling.